Serge Ibaka suffers calf strain, out rest of playoffs

Oklahoma City Thunder's Serge Ibaka is expected to be out for the rest of the 2014 NBA playoffs due to a left calf strain.

The team revealed on Friday that he suffered the injury partway during the third quarter of Thursday night's Game 6 against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Sam Presti, executive vice president and general manager for the team, said in a statement, "We are obviously disappointed for Serge, as he is a tremendous competitor, and we know how badly he wants to be on the court with his teammates."

The Oklahoman beat writer Darnell Mayberry tweeted that at Friday's press conference, Presti said that it was a Grade 2 strain in the plantaris. Mayberry followed up with another that said Presti explained the "recovery process is lengthy because the re-injury risk is exceptionally high."

Ibaka absence will not be an easy one to overcome as he has been consistent and a steadying influence on both sides of the floor for the team during the first two rounds of the playoffs. He was averaging 12.2 points on nearly 62 percent shooting, along with 7.3 rebounds and 2.23 blocks.

The Thunder begin their Western Conference Finals showdown against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. This is the second straight year the Thunder have suffered an injury to one of their starting five during the playoffs.